The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-02-25

not been idle. Parties were buying
lots and building houses, a saw-mill
was going up, and the land was being
cleared, for the town was located right
in the woods. Those were pleasant
days, for, although pressed with bust
ness, my husband would occasionally
go hunting and fishing. / almost al
ways accompanied him. He had bought
me small rifle and taught me to shoot
at mark until l had been quite expert
with my rifle, so he was not the only
one who brought down the game on
our hunting expeditions.
My first introduction to the Indians
was rather unexpected. 1t was one
Sunday. All had gone out for walk,
leaving the children and myself for the
first time alone. Four big Indians
stepped to the door, and all / could
think of was the terrible things had
read about scalping, etc. I turned
around without a word and cut up
some pies and gave to them, remem-
bering that some one had said that if
you are kind to them they won't harm
you. There was smile on their faces
when they took the pie and sat down
to eat it. Now, when think of it, /
would say they must have been smiling
in their sleeves had they any to smile
in, for they could see how frightened [
was.
Our place was only few miles from
Winnebago Reservation, and the In
dians now began to come back and
forth to trade and buy at the store.
We were often annoyed by them.
One morning I had just mixed some
bread dough and had put it nicely COW
cred chair near the stove, when a
big Indian walked in and deliberately
sat down on it. I pulled him away
and showed him the bread. Helaughed.
As the weather grew colder and the
evenings longer we derived much en-
| joyment from our music. We had pUr-
chased all the latest songs before leav-
ing home, and made good use of them.
Many traveller on entering our cabin
home opened wide his eyes in astonish-
ment when they rested on the piano.
One gentleman from Philadelphia went
so far as to say that had he came across
a steamboat in the woods he wouldn' t
have been more surprised. often had
quite an audience, composed mainly of
Indians, listening attentively.
The land all around us was taken up,
and, in order to have our one hundred
and sixty acres near the town, hus-
band bought a claim from a young
man who had not yet acquired title
from the Government 1t was about
two miles from town. We were obliged
to live on it thirty days before we could
pre-empt it. We delayed living on it
till the following spring, and came
near losing it: Husband came in one
evening in great haste and said he had
heard that some man was building a
cabin on our claim, and if we didn' t
take possession of our cabin that night
we would lose it. I hastily gathered
together few things, and we started
on our tramp through the woods, hus-
band leading the way, with child
on one arm and lantern on
the other, followed by myself
and the rest of the children, with
Pat, our man of all work, in the rear
trundling wheelbarrow laden with
bedding, etc. 1 gradually became
reconciled to living in hut, for
that was about what it was. Isoon be-
gan to realize the truth of what that
woman had warned me, for large
centipede, five inches long, fell from
the roof to my feet one day, and at
another time [ brushed one from my
bed. The children called my attention
to % large snake near the house. 1t
was as thick as a good-sized mans
arm, and after it had been killed had
the pleasure of learning that they al
ways went in pairs, but although we
watched daily, its mate never put in
an appearance.
Our little cabin was right near the
lake, and often set the line at night
and in the morning would always find
q good-sized fish. One morning I
caught a very large fish; had to get
some one to help take it out of the
water. We dined and supped from it,
and afterward found out that it was
called buffalo fish, kind that not even
the Indians ate. Husband laughed at
me, but later on was able to turn the
tables. He brought home large bird
that he had shot. I plucked and
roasted it, and we ate it. The next
day in showing the head and plumage
(Which was beautifully, we were in
formed it was loon, bird that no
one ate.
forgot to state that my husband
staid over in town all day, only coming
to stay with us at night. One evening
when he came he said there was a
rumor that the Sioux Indians were kill
ing the settlers. We both passed a
very uneasy night. In the morning he
left saying: II will ascertain the truth
and come and tell you" He had only
been gone a short time when he return
ed, saying: 'It is true. Get ready
quick" Hastily tied on bonnets, and
in short time we were fleeing to
town, while, in imagination, l saw an
Indian behind every tree. When we
reached town the men were in groups
talking over what was best to be done.
Husband sent out two couriers, one to
St. Peter to learn the worst, and the
other to all the settlements near, say
ing if they would come with their fam
lilies and build stockade around his
house he had plenty of provisions for
all; also guns and ammunition. Thanks
to the trading qualities of the Indians
he had secured some thirty or more
guns, and had also several revolvers.
Not one responded to his offer, but
all wished to buy gun. He said: 81
have no guns for sale, but you